THANK YOU to all the parents who participated in the lottery for the L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Program's grant based program - registration for the free program is now closed. However, if you are interested, our fee-based offerings through L.A.C.E.R. PLUS, are now available with some exciting learning opportunities for your child. Please drop us a note if you need help:
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UPCOMING EVENTS

NOW LACER Art Gallery at Trader Joe's on Vine Currently showing art work from all four L.A.C.E.R. middle school programs during store hours @ 1600 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Annual WORD WIZARD Vocabulary & Spelling Competition

MARCH 19 Irving Middle School at 4:00 pm in Room S-4

MARCH 23 King Middle School at 4:00 pm in the Library

MARCH 25 Bancroft Middle Schools at 4:00 pm in Room 234

MARCH 26 LeConte Middle Schools at 4:00 pm in Room 260

APRIL 15 SUPER WORD WIZARD FINALS to be held at King Middle School (further details TBA)

APRIL 16 LACER Art Show Thursday 4/16 (3-6pm) @ LeConte Middle School's Small Gym featuring works from the LACER visual art programs at Bancroft, Irving, King and LeConte Middle Schools.

APRIL 24STARFEST 2015: DANCE SHOWat King Middle School from 7:30 to 9:30pm

MAY 7 Grammy Museum Performance Saturday 3/7, 11am-12pm - LeConte and Irving Middle Schools perform along with Hollywood High School @ The Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are free but RSVP required, please email
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MAY 15 Hard Rock Café PerformanceSunday 3/15, 12pm-1pm - Bancroft Middle School and Fairfax High School perform sets at the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Blvd.

MAY 22 Annual Rock Show (California Arts Council) Friday 5/22, 4-5pm - students in LACER's longest-running rock band at LeConte Middle School perform a 45 min. set for their peers, teachers, parents and fiends.

The Dick Seymour Arts Fund

14 January 2015

In Celebration of the Adventurous Life of American Artist Richard Frank "Dick" Seymour (1937-2015) friends and family encourage donations to The Dick Seymour Arts Fund in lieu of flowers. The Dick Seymour Arts Fund will support visual art students within the L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Programs led by his son, founding member and Executive Director, Will Seymour.

Now in it's 20th year, LACER provides award-winning art, academic and athletic activities to thousands of youth, for free, each year. The Dick Seymour Arts Fund will provide much needed art supplies, portfolios and technology to students seeking higher education in the visual arts. To find out more about Dick Seymour, and the work LACER does, please visit DickSeymour.com and LACERstars.org.

Aaron Cornejo could hardly believe it when he saw his report card with all A's and Bs for the first time.

"I had to look at my report card again like 'I actually have those grades?'" said Cornejo, 17. "I told myself if I could do this, I'm capable of doing more stuff."

Before joining one of the LACER (Literacy, Arts, Culture, Education and Recreation) Afterschool Programs in the sixth grade, Cornejo said he used to come home from school and plop down in front of the TV.

The teachers at LACER would tell me that I'm capable, and I would believe in myself.- Aaron Cornejo, student at Hollywood High

"I would get lazy. I wouldn't even try to do my homework. But LACER changed that," Cornejo said. "The teachers at LACER would tell me that I'm capable, and I would believe in myself."

Eight years later, the Hollywood High School senior won the John Liechty Outstanding Student Award, an honor LACER gives to high-achieving students at each of the six schools that offer the free afterschool program.

One of Cornejo's main motivations to do well in school has been his love of music and participation in the LACER marching band. Band members must maintain at least a 2.0 average.

Despite state and federal budget cuts in the arts and other school programs, LACER has tried to step up and make a difference where it can, said founding member William Seymour, who runs the program. Marching band, for example, was cut from Hollywood High School in 2009; LACER now provides support for the program.

The band is one of a variety of classes LACER offers in addition to student assistance with homework.

"They love the afterschool [program], and when they love the afterschool [program], that means they go to school," Seymour said. "We're a saving grace for so many students, and the ones that come to us are the ones that really want … to take full advantage of it."

Between 96% and 98% of LACER high school participants graduate, Seymour said.

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L.A.C.E.R. News

LISTEN: "Spotlight on the Community"

L.A.C.E.R.'s Will Seymour ("Mortified", "Joan of Arcadia" and "This American Life) sits down with Denise Westwood at 95.5 KLOS "Spotlight on the Community" to discuss growning up, getting involved and how a safe and caring after school environment like the L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Programs can help kids find a direction for the rest of their lives. Listen to the podcast here.

MAJOR GIFT: The Wilbur May Foundation

Partnerships like The Wilbur May Foundation, a long-time supporter, help L.A.C.E.R. make the arts an integral part of the after school experience for thousands of youth in Los Angeles. In a new initiative that began in early 2014, The Wilbur May Foundation ARTStars – Connecting Youth Through the Arts program provided an additional 23,300 hours of instruction and performance time across six L.A.C.E.R. schools. By doing so, L.A.C.E.R. was able to provide an arts experience for every student, that’s over 7,000 middle and high school youth who benefited from this expanded collaboration.

Listen to Will Seymour’s conversation with Denise Westwood on 95.5 KLOS “Spotlight on the Community” as he explains how L.A.C.E.R. changes lives daily through arts, athletics and academics and the new initiative made possible by a major gift from The Wilbur May Foundation.